Oakland dealt Chad Harville to Houston for Kirk Saarloos on Friday. The Athletics designated Harville for assignment on Thursday in order to make room on their roster for fifth starter Rich Harden, giving Oakland 10 days to trade, outright, or release Harville. In order to outright or release Harville, he would have needed to pass through waivers. He also informed the A's that he would not accept a minor league assignment if outrighted, so the club wasn't going to be able to keep him in their system regardless of their decision.

Houston reportedly was set to select Harville with their number one pick in the 1997 draft before finding Lance Berkman unexpectedly still on the board, so the Astros were eager to acquire him now.